Upgrading a Harddrive....

[Type X]

Had a question about inputting a new harddrive into my iMac and macbook.
If i inserted a new harddrive would i have to transfer all the data BEFORE or after? Like i open it up insert the new drive, would it even boot?

Thats what always confused me....

Thanks in advance & please be gentle

 

[spinnerlys]

As any new drive is likely not formatted and has no useable data on it, it is safe to assume any Mac would not boot from it.

Do get your data from the old HDD to the new HDD either use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to clone (make exact and bootable copy) the old HDD's content to the new HDD while the new HDD is put in an appropriate external USB enclosure (2.5" for MacBook, 3.5" for iMac, there are even external devices for 3.5" and 2.5" HDDs connected via USB).

Use MRoogle to find many threads about this issue.

 

[Type X]

As any new drive is likely not formatted and has no useable data on it, it is safe to assume any Mac would not boot from it.

Do get your data from the old HDD to the new HDD either use CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to clone (make exact and bootable copy) the old HDD's content to the new HDD while the new HDD is put in an appropriate external USB enclosure (2.5" for MacBook, 3.5" for iMac, there are even external devices for 3.5" and 2.5" HDDs connected via USB).

Use MRoogle to find many threads about this issue.

^ thank you